Collapsible clothesrack



April 25, 1939. 'ARSWANSON my '2,155,142

COLLAPSIBLE CLOTHESRACK Filed Jan. 26, 1938 Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES 3 Claims.

This invention relates to novel improvements in a foldable wardrobe rack.

One of the rnain objects of this invention is to provide a clothes rack which can be readily set up in any convenient place to support a considerable number of hangers with clothes thereon, thereby adapting this rack particularly for use while having parties and club meetings and the like in a home; and which rack can likewise be readily disassembled and folded into a compact slender parcel, to be set away in a corner or closet or the like, and will take up only a very small space.

Another object of this invention is to provide a foidable clothes rack which is simple and inexpensive in construction, and which preferably has all its essential parts made of wood, that is all the parts that are in use while the rack is in its operative position.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a clothes rack which can be conveniently and quickly set up for occasional use, and which can likewise be readily disassembled and folded together and securely fastened together in a compact parcel to be stored away.

These and various other objects and advantages are attained with this invention, as will besome apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein the invention is shown in its preferred form, it being understood that other arrangements and forms of construction may be resorted to for carrying out the objects and purposes of this invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective View of this improved clothes rack, shown in its preferred form of construction, and secured together in its folded or inoperative position.

Fig. 2 is an inverted enlarged sectional View, taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of this rack in its set-up or operative position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the upper supporting bar, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the lower brace bar, which are detachably connectable to the standards.

The drawing illustrates this invention in its preferred form of construction, comprising a pair of similar standards or uprights I0 and I I, which are preferably in the form of flat planks tapering upwardly and having diverging feet I0 and I I' at the lower ends to provide a secure support.

Crossbars are provided between the standards, including an upper bar I2 and a lower bar I3, the

PATENT ,OFFICE ooLLAPsIBLE. CLOTHESRACK Albert R. Swanson and Reuben L. Swanson, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 26, 1938, Serial No. 186,952

(Cl. 211--177l bar I2 having a notch I4 near each end, and the bar vI3 having a notch I5 near each end and extending to the end, thereby providing notched ends I2 and I3' on said bars which t in and are adapted to be detachably engaged in a pair v of upper openings I6 and a pair of lower openings II provided in the pair of standards. The upper opening I6 may be cut from the top downward into the standard leaving the top edge open, so 4.iat the notched end I2 of bar i2 can be= easily set in place therein; while each end I3' of -bar I3 preferably has its notch l5 extending to the end, so that it can be more readily slid or engaged into the opening I'I of the standard. The two bars and two standards are readily set up into the operative position to provide the clothes rack, and when thus set up the members will ordinarily remain in said position, due to the notched arrangement at the ends of bar I2 engaging the upper parts of the standards at their openings IE. It is preferred, however, to provide additional means for firmly and securely holding the bars and standards together in their set-up or operative position. Such securing means is conveniently provided by forming an eye or opening i9 in each end of bar I3 and placing in said opening, at the outward side of each standard, a pin or peg 20, sai-d peg being tapered so that while it is pressed down in the eye it will engage firmly against the outer face of the standard and press the inner face of the standard firmly against the shoulder of the notched part I3' of bar I3. This fastens the members tightly together and prevents any loose play between the same, and it also locks them securely together to prevent any accidental separation thereof.

The standards and bars and pegs of this construction are preferably made of wood, thus providing a simple and inexpensive wooden clothes rack, which can be readily set-up for use whenever needed or desired and which can likewise be quickly and conveniently disassembled and folded together in a compact parcel to be stored away. For the purpose of folding the standards and bars more closely together in a slender and compact parcel or package, and to facilitate in stacking the same away, we have provided a pair of grooves 2l in the standards extending longitudinally of these adjacent faces, arranged to receive therein the pair of bars I2 and I 3, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The bars are thus placed between the standar-ds and are nested in these grooves 2l, so as to form a compact parcel. The pegs 2U can be stored in the lower openings II of the standards in this folded position, as indicated in Fig. 1.

Appropriate means is also provided to secure and retain the bars and standards firmly together in the folded position. This means is shown in the drawing, for example, in the form of several hooks 22 pivotally attached to one stan-dard and each engaging a screw or element 23 attached near it on the other standard, thereby clasping the standards firmly together upon the bars nested in the grooves therebetween, while these pegs 20 are nested in the openings IT in the standards, as shown in Fig. 1.

We claim:

1. A foldable wooden clothes rack which consists of a pair of standards and an upper and a lower bar detachably connecting the same, each standard having an upper notch and a lower slot therein, the upper bar having notched end parts hooked into said upper notches and having a rounded top to facilitate hanging clothes hangers thereon, the lower bar having reduced end parts engaging in said slots, also having holes in said parts and shoulders bearing against the standards, tapering pegs in said holes to press the shoulders rmly against the standards and hold the parts rigid in the operative position, the standards having means extending longitudinally thereof for nesting the bars therein, and means on the standards for securing them together in folded position with the bars held therebetween.

2. A foldable clothes rack being entirely of wood and consisting of a pair of standards and an upper and a lower bar having their ends detachably connected to said standards, the standards having each an upper notch and a lower opening therein, the upper bar having notched end parts engaging in said upper notches and being readily attachable thereto and detachable therefrom, the lower bar having reduced end parts readily and detachably engaged in said openings, also having shoulders engaging against the inward sides of the two standards and holes at the outward sides of the latter, and tapering pegs detachably mounted in said holes to force the shoulders firmly against the standards and hold the parts rigidly together in the operative position, said standards having grooves extending longitudinally of their adjacent faces adapted to receive the bars therein and facilitate combining the parts into a compact parcel.

3. A foldable clothes rack consisting of a pair of standards provided each with an upper and a lower opening therein, also grooves extending longitudinally of their adjacent faces, an upper and a lower bar, each having notched end parts readily and detachably mountable in said openings to hold the rack firmly in its operative position, the lower bar having holes in its end parts, tapering pegs detachably placed in said holes and pressing against the sides of the standards for drawing the latter and the bars rmly together and hold them rigid in the operative position, said bars being placeable in said grooves and said pegs in said openings for combining these Various members together into a compact parcel, and cooperating elements on the standards for securing said combined members together and facilitate storing in a small space.

ALBERT R. SWANSON.

REUBEN L. SWANSON. 

